Minimum wage increase for healthcare workers on hold for now

An ordinance to raise the minimum wage of eligible healthcare workers in private hospitals and health clinics to $25 was put on hold last week. (Photo by Alex Dominguez)

DOWNEY - An ordinance to establish a $25 minimum wage for eligible healthcare workers at Downey’s private hospitals, healthcare facilities and clinics has been put on hold, following submission of a referendum petition last week.

Upon the petition’s submission, the ordinance was immediately stayed, meaning it would not go into effect this month as originally anticipated. Downey City Council will now need to decide whether to repeal the ordinance or submit it to Downey voters in November.

The wage increase was backed by the SEIU-United Healthcare Workers West union.

It was just a month ago when the City Council originally voted 4-0 to forgo sending the item to the voters and adopt it outright, following a suggestion from Councilman Mario Trujillo who at the time said Downey’s hospitals “would be okay.”

Trujillo said that he was “very much supportive of the democratic process.”

“If this is what is the next step, then we may just have to take it to the voters,” said Trujillo. “It is what it is.”

Critics of the wage increase, including many hospitals, have argued that most healthcare workers in the city would not benefit from the ordinance. (Photo by Alex Dominguez)

In an email response to a Downey Patriot inquiry, Councilman Donald La Plante – who has been openly critical over arguments against the ordinance - said he would “vote to put it on the ballot.”

“Since this process was started by a citizen’s petition, I believe we have an obligation now to let the voters decide,” wrote La Plante. “It’s not surprising that the hospital association was able to get enough signatures with the outrageous amounts of money being offered to paid signature gatherers.”

Mayor Blanca Pacheco declined to comment on the matter. Pacheco had voted in favor of adopting the ordinance outright, and her campaign for state assembly has been endorsed by the SEIU California State Council.

Opposition to the ordinance – including a group of hospitals and other healthcare facilities known as No on the Los Angeles Unequal Pay Measure Coalition - have described it as “deeply flawed,” adding that a majority of healthcare workers would not benefit from the pay increase.

City of Downey staff have previously said they identified 194 businesses that would be affected by the ordinance.

Downey was the second city to approve the minimum wage increase, preceded by Los Angeles and followed shortly after by Monterey Park and Long Beach.

If approved by voters, then the pay increase would go into effect 10 days after the election is certified.